Container-dispenser for dry fluent material



Dec. 10, 1963 w. J. LUEDTKE CONTAINER-DISPENSER FOR DRY FLUENT MATERIAL 3 SheetsSheet 1 Filed June 2, 1960 INVENTOR.

Dec. 10, 1963 w. J. LUEDTKE CONTAINER-DISPENSER FOR DRY FLUENT MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1960 INVENTOR.

Dec. 10, 1963 w. J. LUEDTKE CONTAINER-DISPENSER FOR DRY FLUENT MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed June 2, 1960 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,1i3,72 CQNTAENER-DEPENEER Fill} DR FLUENT Warren 3. Luedthe, Racine, Wis, assignor to C. lohnson it; Son, inc, Racine, Wis. Filed lune 2, 1%0, Ser. No. 33,558 4 Qlaims. (Cl. 222177) This invention relates to a container-dispenser for dry fiuent material such as fertilizer or seed and pertains particularly to a device of such character which is disposable and designed for use in the yard or garden.

in the past, householders have customarily distributed seed, fertilizer, and/ or herbicides with a variety of devices. These have generally been designed to be carried or otherwise moved over the surface to be treated by pulling or pushing. They have usually borne a structural rese blance to the field equipment used by the agricultural industry, with the most desirable types being equipped with means for broadcasting the particulate contents evenly over the surface area to be treated. The more satisfactory apparatus known to the prior art is that which is provided with wheels whose rotation causes the actuation of an agitator device which serves to force dry fluent materials from the apparatus in a regular or even manner.

One of the principal disadvantages of the devices of the prior art is to be found in their relatively high cost. Another disadvantage is that such devices must be filled for each use by the operator, exposing him, when fertilizers or herbicides are used, to the inhalation of undesirable or even noxious dust or fumes. An additional disadvantage is the large size of such devices, creating problems for the householder having limited storage space. These devices are normally open at the top, making it impractical to store therein any fluent material remaining after a particular application, without the danger of contamination or spillage. Due to the normal size of such devices it is not feasible to pour left-over seed or fertilizer into a closable container. Moreover, due to the corrosive nature of some fertilizer compositions, such storage would only aggravate problems relating to the maintenance of such devices, normally metal, in a satisfactory operating condition.

An object of the present invention is to provide a container-dispenser for dry fluent materials such as seed or fertilizer which functions both to package such fluent materials for shipping, display and home storage, and to distribute such materials at the point of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container-dispenser package for dry fluent materials which is low cost and hence may be discarded after use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a containe dispenser package for dry fluent materials which has the appearance of a conventional shipping carton, thus facilitating its transportation, storage, and merchandising in outlets such as supermarkets, hardware and garden variety stores.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a container-dispenser package for dry fluent materials which protects the user from contact with the contents thereof and from the inhalation of attendant dust or fumes.

Finally, it is an object of e present invention to provide a disposable container-dispenser for dry fluent materials which is convertible from a shipping container to an operational device for distributing such material evenly in desired amounts over an area to be treated.

ddldfidl Fatented Dec. 10, 1963 FIGURES l, 8 and 10 are perspective Views of different embodiments of the container-dispenser assembled as *a shipping container.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the container-dispenser shown in FIGURE 1 which has been partially opened prior to assembly for use as a dispenser for dry fluent materials.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the same embodiment of the container-dispenser as is shown in FIGURES l and 2, with this view depicting the device substantially completely assembled for operation as a dispenser.

PEGURES 9 and 11 are perspective views of the alternate container-dispensers corresponding to FIGURES 8 and 10 respectively, opened and assembled for operation as a dispenser.

PiGURE 4 is a vertical partial section taken along the line 4@ in FIGURE 3 showing the lower portion of the container-dispenser and agitating means therein.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the container-dispenser reservoir shell, handle and protective cover for the dispenser mechanism.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the container-dispenser hopper showing discharge orifices.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing the hopper with an alternate dispensing mechanism.

Generally described, the present container-dispenser comprises a disposable receptacle having two opposed side walls converging inwardly at their lower extremities, forming a dovmwardly directed discharge opening, agitating means mounted in said receptacle for enhancing the flow of fluent material through the downwardly directed discharge opening, wheels mounted on said receptacle with means connecting the wheels with the agitating means for the purpose of motivating the agitating means, a removable cover fitting over the wheels and discharge opening and a handle by which said container-dispenser may be propelled across the garden or yard, thus rotating the wheels and actuating the agitating means.

The container-dispenser as shown in closed form in FIGURE 1 has a pair of adjacent side walls 12 and 13 and corresponding opposite side walls not shown. Said side walls have upper and lower portions joined by a securing tape 14 which may be removed, thereby separating said upper and lower portions of the container. The securing tape may be any of a variety of types. It may be ordinary paper b ack tape containing an adhesive which does not severely dam-age the side walls of the container when removed. It may be comprised of a string, usually plastic, mounted on the inner face of the side walls, which when pulled severs the wall. Also, the tear string maybe laid between two layers of a two-ply cardboard wall, the under layer having been serrated under the string. When the string is pulled, the outer layer is severed, permitting the upper and lower portions of the container to be separated. Alternately, the upper and lower portions of the side walls may be perforated and the walls severed by breaking em along the line of perforation. Obviously, other suitable methods of joining the upper and lower side walls may be devised.

In opening the container, side flaps 1'5 and 16 are brought into raised position. End flaps 17 and 18 are then raised. Each of end flaps i7 and d8 is provided on each side with adjacent side portions 19, 19a, 20 and 20a, and adjacent end poritons 2.1 and 22. The adjacent side portions 19 and 29 as shown in FIGURE 2 have geometric out-outs 23 and 24. Side flap '15 has tab 25 of a geometric configuration corresponding to cut-outs 23 and 24 which remains secured to flap I5 along line 26. Adjacent side portions 1% and Ella, and side flap 16, all of which are partly obscured in the drawings, may also be provided with similar cut-outs and tab, respectively, to provide maximum rigidity. Side flaps and I6 and end flaps 17 and 18 take the position shown in FIGURE 3 when assembled for use. Tab '25 of side flap registers with cut-outs 23 and 24. In this position, tab 25 is pushed inwardly to lock side flap I5 securely with the adjacent side portions d9 and 21} of end flaps l7 and 18. Cut-outs 27, 28, 29 and 39 provide a handle portion shown generally as 31 in FIGURE 3. Adjacent end flaps I and 22 told under the end flap to which the-y are attached, thereby imparting substantial strength to the handle portion 31. Alternately, adjacent end flaps 2d and 212 may be folded with one under and the other over the apex of handle portion 31. Cover 3Q, initially comprised of the lower portions of side walls 12 and I3 and their opposites, not shown, has been removed from the operational unit shown in FIGURE 3.

Removal of the cover 32, reveals a dispensing mechanism. This mechanism consists primarily of a hopper 33 having mounted thereon wheels 34 and 35 joined by an axle 36, one or both of the wheels being rigidly connected to the axle. The axle passes through and is keylocked to an agitating bar such as that shown as 4% in FIGURE 4. inwardly converging side wall 37 of the hopper and its opposite unshown counterpart possess a series of discharge orifices 38 arranged along the lower extremity of the hopper. If desired, these orifices may be covered with a tape or otherwise for the purpose of pre venting slight leakage prior to use. The agitating means 49 shown in FIGURE 4 may be provided with a plurality of suitable recesses 41.

In FIGURE 7 there is shown an alternate agitating means. Wheels 34- and 35 are joined by axle 36 which traverses a series of slotted discharge openings 42 cut-out from the inwardly converging portions of hopper wall 37. One or both of the wheels is rigidly fixed to the axle. Also rigidly fixed to the axle 36 are a plurality of serrated wheels or gears 43 which fit into the discharge slots. Each of these gears or serrated wheels is equipped with teeth or blades 4-4 defining recesses 45. Extending from a position immediately above each slotted discharge opening in the hopper wall is a flexible member 46, commonly called a reed, extending downwardly covering a portion of the opening, approaching closely but not engaging the teeth of the serrated wheel. The reed may be secured to the hopper wall by any convenient means such as by rivet, glue or tape, or be an integral part of the hopper wall where the hopper is a molded plastic unit.

During assembly, hopper 33' and the reservoir of the container designated generally as 49a in FIGURE 3 are filled with a dry fluent material such as fertilizer or seed. In operation, the container-dispenser may be propelled across the desired surface area on wheels 34 and 35. The axle 36, which is rigidly fixed to one or both of the wheels rotates, thus motivating the agitating means. When agitating means such as that shown as at! in FIGURE 4 is employed, the dry fluent material is carried by recesses 41 from the reservoir idd to discharge orifices 38, and evenly discharged upon the ground at a rate primarily dependent upon the size of the recesses in the agitating means, size of the discharge orifices, size of dry fluent particles and speed at which the unit is propelled. When equipped with an alternate discharge mechanism as shown in FIGURE 7, the wheels turn axle 36 which in turn causes the serrated wheels 43 to rotate in slots 42. As rotation occurs, small quantities of the dry fluent material are engaged by recesses 45, carried past the flexible member 46 and distributed onto the ground. As with the embodiment shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, a thin, evenly distributed amount of particulate material is dispensed.

The container-dispenser is pushed or pulled by the handle from the position numbered 31. The unit has good stability, and a rigid feeling in use even though it is disposable and produced from relatively light compositions such as cardboard. The locking mechanism, operated by the use of tab 25, assists in holding the handle in an assembled position so that it is ready for immediate use without pulling the flaps together each time the handle is gripped. Although the exact arrangement of the handle shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 and the mechanism shown in FIGURES 4 and 7 are very desirable, the invention is not intended to be limited to these specific embodiments. Any of a variety of agitating means may be used to produce a satisfactory result. As shown in FIGURES 4 and 7, the agitating means can be principally located either inside or outside the hopper. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 7, the axle is located outside the hopper and secured thereto by bearing staples 47 or other satisfactory securing means. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3, the axle comprising a portion of the agitating means is located inside the hopper and passes through its end walls 72 and 73. Power may be transmitted from the wheels to an internal agitating mechanism by any of several means including direct drive, as is the case where the agitator is integral with the axle, gears, pulleys, belts and chains. In each case, however, the discharge opening may be covered with a cover such as 32 in FIGURE 1. The container-dispenser will be compact in construction, light in weight and disposable. It will be equipped with a handle which preferably forms a rigid unit with the remainder of the unit.

In addition to the handle arrangement shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3, a number of other suitable embodiments may be utilized. Two other suitable handles are shown in FIGURES 3, 9, 10 and 11. In FIGURES 8 and 9, the package is tapered at the top. The handle is in the form of a sheet of cardboard or other similar material. It has triangular body receiving cut-outs 1% and res and a cutout m7 suitable for use in gripping. The handle serves as a carrying means for the package during storage and display. When placed in use, the handle is removed from the position as shown in FIGURE 8 by severing joining means such as a taped or perforated seam, not shown, under the container cap and is afiixed at each end to the container by means of a securing flap such as that shown at 198. The triangular cut-outs in the handle are mated with the upper portions of the container body. As the handle converges inwardly and upwardly from its points of attachment on the opposed side walls, a rigid bond is established between the cut-outs and the opposed side walls lending stability to the unit in operation.

FIGURES 10 and 11 show an additional form which the handle may take. Here the handle is cut from a separate sheet of material shown most vividly in FIGURE 10. It consists of a central portion 109, opposing handle portions of which one, 110, is shown. The central portion is taped or otherwise secured to the upper portion of the side wall at 111 and 112 and in corresponding positions on the opposite side Wall which is not shown. For use, handle portion and its opposite, not shown, are folded up along lines 113' and 114 and joined together along line 119" as shown in FIGURE 11 to form a handle provided with cut-out 12th for convenience in gripping. Adjacent handle flaps I15 and 116 and their opposites fold together and are secured in position by tabs 117 and 118 interlocking with corresponding cut-outs to give stability to the assembled unit. The rigidity obtained by this locking mechanism prevents undesirable flexing of the handle along lines 113 and 114 when the unit is in use. The handle arrangement of FIGURE 11 may be modified further by severing the central portion longitudinally and securing a segment thereof to each of two opposed side walls in the positions generally designated 111 and 112. The same effect may be accomplished by making handle portions III) and its unshown opposite integral with their respective side walls of the container.

The container-dispenser of the present invention is readily constructed from disposable material such as cardboard, light wood, semi-rigid plastic and the like. The entire external portion of the unit as seen in FIGURE 1 maybe die stamped from a plastic or cardboard sheet to appear as the blank shown in FIGURE 5. Likewise, the hopper portion of the unit as seen in FIGURE 7 may be stamped from a single sheet of plastic or cardboard to appear as the blank shown in FIGURE 6 or molded of plastic in one piece in the form shown in FIGURE 3 or 7. The outer portion of the container may be prepared as an integral unit before assembly as shown in FIGURE 5. Alternately, it may be severed during stamping along line 48. That portion of the blank below line '48- becomes the cap shown as 32 in FIGURE 2. When assembled, the remainder of the container-dispenser, except for the hopper and dispensing mechanism, is formed from that portion of the blank above line 48.

The blank shown in FIGURE 5 is folded at right angles at lines 49, 5t and 51 to form a container having four sides; 12, 12a, 13 and 13a. Side 13a is secured to side 12a by tab 66. This may be accomplished by staples, glue, tape or otherwise. Adjacent end flaps 21 and 22 are folded under along lines 69 and 6. 1. Adjacent side portions 19 and 19a of end flap 17 are folded down at right angles along lines 57 and 56 respectively. Likewise, adjacent side portions 2% and a of end flap 18 are folded down at right angles along lines 58 and 59 respectively. End flaps 17 and 18 are then folded along lines and 63 respectively as partially shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3. The length of end flaps I7 and I8 is slightly less than the length of side walls 12 and 12a, and the width of one end flap slightly less than the width of the other. Accordingly, the end flaps 17 and 18 will fold down, one over the other, so that the ultimate container appears box-like as in FIGURE 1. Side fiaps I5 and 16 are folded down and secured at right angles along lines 64- and 62 respectively, thus sealing the top of the container. The bottom of the container is sealed by folding flaps 67 and 69 at lines 52 and 53 respectively and thereafter folding flaps 66 and 68 along lines 55 and 54 respectively. Again these flaps are secured by gluing, stapling, taping, or by other suitable means.

The foregoing discussion presents a means by which the container of FIGURE 5 is assembled. Prior to complete assembly, the hopper may be assembled from a blank such as that shown in FIGURE 6 and secured in the container. In assembling the hopper from the blank of FIGURE 6, end portions 70 and 71 are folded up at right angles along lines 74 and 75 respectively. Similarly, hopper end walls 72 and 73 are folded up at right angles along lines 76 and 77 respectively. Hopper side walls 37 and 37a are folded up along line 88 bringing end portions 70 and 71 and hopper end walls 72 and 73 together in which position they are secured. The upper portion of end wall 72 is folded at right angles along lines 89, 90, 91 and 92 respectively so that it assumes the position generally shown in FIGURE 7, providing sealing edges 93, 94 and 95. In like manner, the upper portion of wall 73 is folded at right angles along lines 96, 97, 98 and 99 respectively to provide sealing edges 100, 101, and 102. Hopper side walls 86 and 87 are folded at obtuse angles along lines 103 and M34 respectively to provide the vertical hopper walls 86 and 8'7 as shown in FIGURE 7. Tabs 78, 79, and 81 are folded at right angles along lines 82, 83, 84 and respectively and are secured to the edges of hopper end walls 72 and 73, thus completing the assembly of the hopper. As suggested earlier, the hopper may be molded from plastic as an integral unit, making the above assembly procedure unnecessary.

The hopper is secured in the container produced from the blank of FIGURE 5 by gluing, taping or tacking the sealing edges 93, 94, 95, 1%, I01, and 102 of the hopper end portions 72 and 73 and the outer edge of hopper walls 86 and 87 to the internal wall of the container immediately above line 43. The agitating means, wheels and axles will be added to the hopper in an obvious manner. Prior to assembling the top flaps I5, 16, i7 and 18, the container is filled with a dry fluent material.

Alternately, the container may be filled from the bottom, the hopper being installed thereafter followed by the folding and securing of flaps 66, 67, 68 and 69. For added convenience in the installation of the hopper, it may be desirable to sever the blank of FIGURE 5 along line 45. If this has been done, the lower portion of the blank will be assembled into a cap shown as 32 in FIG- URE 2 by folding and securing flaps 66, 67, 68 and 69 along lines 55, 52, 54 and 53. The cap will be placed in position over the hopper and wheels and secured as shown generally in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Preferably, the present device will contain enough fertilizer, herbicide or seed for application to a standard size lawn or garden and will be constructed of a cheap, disposable material such as cardboard or plastic or components of each of those materials. The product will be merchandised in garden variety stores or supermarkets.

It will be used for one, or perhaps a few applications, and then discarded.

While the specific form or forms shown and described are advantageous in practicing the invention, it is understood that modifications could be made by skilled persons without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims. Now having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A box-like container-dispenser for dry fluent material comprising a receptacle having two pairs of opposed side walls and a bottom wall, a downwardly directed discharge opening in said bottom wall, wheels mounted on said receptacle, agitating means mounted in said receptacle for enhancing the flow of material through said discharge opening, means connecting at least one of said wheels with said agitating means for the purpose of motivating said agitating means, a removable boxlike cover fitting over said wheels and discharge opening, a handle having cut-out portions secured to the first pair of side walls corresponding to the position of said wheels, said handle converging inwardly and upwardly from its points of attachment on the side walls to form a grip above said receptacle, the cut-outs of said handle mating with the upper portion of the second pair of opposed side walls to form a rigid bond between said handle and receptacle.

2. A container-dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second pair of opposed side walls are substantially triangular and said handle has triangular cutouts, the triangular cut-outs of said handle mating with said receptacle to form a rigid bond between said handle and receptacle.

3. An expandable box-like disposable container-dispenser for dry fluent material comprising a receptacle having two pairs of opposed side walls, a bottom wall having a downwardly directed discharge opening, a top wall comprising two pairs of top flaps extending from the upper portions of said side walls, one pair of said top flaps having cutouts located near their free ends, said pair of top flaps overlapping, one over the other, so that when opened the cutouts match said overlapping flaps, thereby forming a handle with a convenient gripping means at an elevated position, wheels mounted on said receptacle, agitating means mounted in said receptacle for enhancing the flow of material through the discharge opening in said bottom wall, means connecting at least one of said wheels with said agitating means for motivating said agitating means and a removable box-like cover fitting over said wheels and discharge opening.

4. A dispenser in accordance with claim 3 wherein said overlapping flaps have adjacent portions containing depressable partially cutout tabs which match and which References (Iliad in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Peoples July 31, 1956 enat Apr. 12, Torrence Mar. 15, Goodyear Oct. 22, Delaney May 4, Moore July 17, Wallis Sept. 29, 

1. A BOX-LIKE CONTAINER-DISPENSER FOR DRY FLUENT MATERIAL COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE HAVING TWO PAIRS OF OPPOSED SIDE WALLS AND A BOTTOM WALL, A DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED DISCHARGE OPENING IN SAID BOTTOM WALL, WHEELS MOUNTED ON SAID RECEPTACLE, AGITATING MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID RECEPTACLE FOR ENHANCING THE FLOW OF MATERIAL THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, MEANS CONNECTING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID WHEELS WITH SAID AGITATING MEANS FOR THE PURPOSE OF MOTIVATING SAID AGITATING MEANS, A REMOVABLE BOXLIKE COVER FITTING OVER SAID WHEELS AND DISCHARGE OPENING, 